Not 18? No sale!

[Naked Snake]

Do you agree? Not 18, no sale?

What do you think?

[Captain Red]

Well, I have no problem with disallowing young children from playing things like SOF and GTA... I'd drop it down to 16 maybe... (In fact, that law in already in effect over here). And You can’t deny that the very young are affected be what they see and play. (I had the misfortune of having to look after a bunch of nine year old mighty morphing power ranger fans once... *shudder*) and the next time some moron goes on a school rampage we can say, “don’t look at games, there not allowed to have any violent ones!”

An I don’t like kids.

[Chow Yun Thin]

Heh, a few months ago I decided to buy Quake 2 at Target. I was 18 at the time but the cashier still made me take out my driver's license and show them that I was legally 18. The point is, the system fails if it is dependent on just looking at an individual and assuming he or she is of a certain age. Appearances are most deceiving.

I question whether this system works at all. Nowadays mainstream media is chock full of violence and sex and whathaveyou. The interactive entertainment industry is a step up from the spectator sport of TV and a reflection of this. Now, it's far too late to turn the clock back. Gamers are not satisfied with the bright red pixelated blood of the Doom era. They want photorealistic flesh wounds taken straight from Rotten. They have become jaded. They demand more and more realism in their games.

The most important thing is for them to distinguish fantasy from reality. I don't care much for how they learn the differences: from parents, from self-analysis, from the real world. They have to know. Period.

[AndrewB]

I think that games like GTA3 should be restricted by age. Movies are, so why not games?

And I can tell you one more thing. I certainly don't crave photorealistic blood, decay, death, and the most horrible things imaginable. Games should be about addictive formulas, rewards, and exploration. If you crave the sight of death and torture in the most realistic way possible, don't get a video game. Get a shrink. Or maybe get Faces Of Death II.

[DOOM Anomaly]

Simple, if its not for kids of younger age, then the parents shouldnt let them buy it. I find restrictions from games wack, I played doom when I was 6 and hey, Im not killing people and jazz, I play GTA3, and GTA Vice City, Im fine, its just depends on how easy the kid is to be brain washed.

[zark]

I'm not sure if there's any proof that violent video games cause violent behavior. If anything, isn't playing violent games going to make you less violent as you're taking out all your violent urges and stress on a game rather than in real life? And in the case of Eric Harris, wasn't he being badly bullied at school? And games don't teach you how to make bombs, you can find that kinda stuff easily on the internet. People should stop blaming these kind of crimes on video games and start taking a look at the environment these kids live in (parents, school, etc). Being a teenager can be extremely tough.

[Fredrik]

Some games certainly aren't suitable for children. I don't see any logical reason why there wouldn't be age restrictions.

[Captain Red]

ZarcyB said:
I'm not sure if there's any proof that violent video games cause violent behavior. If anything, isn't playing violent games going to make you less violent as you're taking out all your violent urges and stress on a game rather than in real life? And in the case of Eric Harris, wasn't he being badly bullied at school?

Really? From what I heard, the columbine shooters where arrogant little brats, who did there best to make utter pains of themselves until the very bitter and very violent end. If anything, they where the bullies. Maybe they got that way as a result of them being bullied themselves. But that not really the issue.

I don’t think the debate is weather or not games give you motives to kill, I think it’s more around weather or not they make you “better” killers (i.e., to desensitize you to the point where killing someone who gets in your way seems like an acceptable option). And I fear that young children whom do not yet have a real sense of right and wrong and fantasy and reality are at risk of having there perception of reality warped to the point “Jim teases me and steals my lunch money, so I’m going to grab my daddy’s hunting rifle and sort him out” seem like the right choice.

This would only be the case if the child played a lot of violent games all the time, but they where only able to play them when the parents where out of the house, or when no one was looking, but when the parents say, “bugger it, they cane play it all they want”, the child *will* play for hours on end (face it, most people here would to), which could potentially be harmful. The environment people grow up in affects them.

I’m not saying every kid who grew up on wolf/doom/mortal kombat will favor a violent solution to any given problem, but saying games are in no way reasonable is down right naïve.

In conclusion, violent games are for mature adults who have a better understanding of the world around them and can tell the difference between right and wrong.

[mmnpsrsoskl]

Earn it you little underage bitches :P

I sell these kind of games to little kids all the time, since they're just gonna come back with there parents and get it. Fuck.

Who cares.

If you don't want your damned kids playing these games, then don;t give them the money to buy them. While you are there, take away their PC's as well and unplug the TV. Oh wait, you can still see this stuff in magazines...better lock them in their room. Better yet. Chain them to the bed.

Walk up to yourselves morons, this is Planet Earth, this is the Human Race, get fucking used to it.

Jesus.

At least they aren't out there killing and raping 5 year's old, fuck. Leave us to our games and we won't bother you.

[DiluteCo]

Ct_red_pants said:

Really? From what I heard, the columbine shooters where arrogant little brats, who did there best to make utter pains of themselves until the very bitter and very violent end. If anything, they where the bullies. Maybe they got that way as a result of them being bullied themselves. But that not really the issue.

Is this what they said on tv? or did you know this for a fact. Did you know them in real life? Don't be quick to judge what goes on in school, kids like that are usually doing the bullying, so if they WERE being picked on, im sure it wasnt for that reason. trust me, im one of those kids. i know what the fuck goes on, and some stupid game isnt gonna drive me to kill. kids on the football team getting better grades than me just for that reason drives me to kill.

[Captain Red]

Fredrik said:
Some games certainly aren't suitable for children. I don't see any logical reason why there wouldn't be age restrictions.

mmnpsrsoskl said:

Leave us to our games and we won't bother you.

These statements pretty much covers everything that needs to be said here.

[Fletcher`]

Ct_red_pants said:

...And I fear that young children whom do not yet have a real sense of right and wrong and fantasy and reality are at risk of having there perception of reality warped to the point “Jim teases me and steals my lunch money, so I’m going to grab my daddy’s hunting rifle and sort him out” seem like the right choice...

Here's one of the big problems. If they're too young to understand it's not real, they shouldn't play it, or buy it. That and those with serious mental problems too. (me almost 17 do understand these things)

[scorpion]

It's difficult to see where the problem really is. When someone sells a violent or scary game to a six-year-old, then I think the salesperson should be aware of what he's doing. If a grownup gets the same game for is six-year-old son, then the one selling the game has nothing to do with it. In any case, parents should be aware of what their kids play and wether they learn positive or negative things out of it. I still wouldn't let my 9 year old nephew play DooM, simply because I know he's gonna have bad dreams about it.

[Alientank]

I don't care, I'm 18 right now so it doesn't matter to me! HAHA!

[elbryan42]

I truly wish that stores would enforce the ratings. Kids have no innocence anymore.

One thing I don't get is they put Soldier of Fortune and GTA3 in the same category. SoF: Killing terrorists, game over if you kill civilians. GTA3: Killing for the hell of it, no holds barred, prostitution, gangs.

GTA was great when it was just cars. Jumping from one car to the other, not getting caught. But when they added the raunchiest stuff they can think of, they ruined the series IMO.

They don't have games about robbing banks or raping children, showing not to get caught. But killing rival gangs, hanging around with prostitutes, and worse? GTA3 should be pulled from shelves immediately.

But the problem is, getting rid of one game like that means that there will be no tolerance for other violent games. Good games that have killing, but is responsible for it. Soldier of Fortune, while violent and graphic, makes sure you're killing the right people. In Doom you shoot aliens. In Quake 3, it's meant as fun and as unrealistic as possible. These games are meant as wholesome fun, and while graphic, doesn't have bad intentions in mind.

GTA3 and Vice City though...

[Fletcher`]

There are no aliens in DOOM. :P

[Captain Red]

DiluteCo said:
Is this what they said on tv? or did you know this for a fact. Did you know them in real life? Don't be quick to judge what goes on in school, kids like that are usually doing the bullying, so if they WERE being picked on, im sure it wasnt for that reason. trust me, im one of those kids. i know what the fuck goes on, and some stupid game isnt gonna drive me to kill. kids on the football team getting better grades than me just for that reason drives me to kill.

I'm saying that I don't think they where "striking back" at bullies. And yes the American education system is corrupt. However, if you think that makes me sympathize with a with a couple of point blank mass murders, then guess again.

elbryan42 said:
...In Doom you shoot aliens...

Demons DEMONS!! You shoot DEMONS in doom! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill all of you!!!! :P

[scorpion]

Heh, I see this rant returning every now and then, so I'd like to ask people to consider this:

When somebody says 'aliens' they could mean 'creatures alien to men' (like hellspawned demons, or do you actually know what they look like?) or 'alien to this country'... !!!

And now, please shut up about it. :-P

[elbryan42]

Sorry. I was half asleep when I wrote that.

[zark]

They banned a game over here because it had the player shooting people with turbans which the game called terrorists, and Sikhs got pissed off because of that. How fucking stupid is that? There would be no problem if the "terrorists" were white Christian Americans. That kinda thing really pisses me off.

[Lizardcommando]

Ct_red_pants said:

If anything, they where the bullies.

Are you sure about that? If anything, the bullying from their peers turned them into bullies. Thus causing the shooting. Making an age restriction for buying video games won't stop the violence. It's the bullies who torment the weaker ones that cause violence. For all I care, I'd rather have the tormenters die then the killers. In fact, If there was a shooting at my school, I'd rather have the killers kill most of the assholes off then having the killer become some psyco serial killer when they get older.

Those bigwig pussies can shove the new law up their asses! Fuck them!!! It's not fair for the other people who are actually sane and wants GTA3 or some other cooler video game. Does the country want us to become a bunch of pansy fruits like them? Violent video games de-sensitizes us thus preparing us for the real world, in a sense. So does the news, movies, music, and other major entertainment businesses. They really should look at the brainwashing nazi corporation called M-TV or some other Teen shit.

I have more to say, but I can't think of anything new yet... :/

[FirebrandX]

The only reason I'm for the age restriction is because I feel kids should have to put in the same years the rest of us older people did. I'm 28 and I remember moaning about not being able to see "R" rated movies in the theater, but I put in my time and now I can watch or play what I want. Same should go for all the sub-18 whipper-snappers around here.

[Use]

Doom Anomaly has it. Parents should be the ones moderating the games kids buy. But since they're all too stupid or lazy big brother has to do everything for them. Just more evidence that this country is retarded. We just love looking for excuses, blame everything else when the real problem is right fucking in front of them.

[AndrewB]

Who the heck set the last poll option to "I could care less"?? Those are the stupidest four words in the English language. The words imply the opposite of the intended message.

_______ die, "I could care less"ers. Die!

[Naked Snake]

AndrewB said:

Who the heck set the last poll option to "I could care less"??

I think it was that silly bastard that started the poll. I could be wrong though.

[Fletcher`]

"I could care less, then everything'd be perfect."

[Sephiroth]

games like GTA, and a few others should not be sold to kids. i once bought wolf3d for the GBA and got asked for Id, mainly cause they guy was pissed at the world and was bitching at everthing.

My mom signed a petition to BAN all games above "T" but i know that will not work. some games fall between 'T' and 'M' games like halo and hexen II are examples. in hexen II you can gib things and there is more blood, yet it is teen rated. halo has no gibing, unless there is some in deathmatch. Oh and the flood loose pices. however much of what u see is alien blood(gree, blue colors) and it is rated M. that is most likly the result of over protective columbine mothers. games like wolf3d where bumped up from a teen rateing to M because of post columbine ignorance. they advertise few games on TV and rarly show one that is M rated. however i always seen GTA adds, personaly i dont really like the game much.

i am sure we will see a m or t 15+ rateing. also how the hell can they not sell u the game if u are under 18? look at the M rateing logo. does it not say M 17+ or mature 17 and older? so it really should be if u are under 17

[CyRaptor]

I think the ultimate solution would be to get rid of all the kids.

[Fletcher`]

CyRaptor said:

I think the ultimate solution would be to get rid of all the kids.

Ok, now it's time to be serious. :P

[FirebrandX]

Use3D said:

Doom Anomaly has it. Parents should be the ones moderating the games kids buy. But since they're all too stupid or lazy big brother has to do everything for them. Just more evidence that this country is retarded. We just love looking for excuses, blame everything else when the real problem is right fucking in front of them.

That's WAY too over-dramatic. let's break down what you're saying here:

1. Parents should be the ones moderating the games kids buy.

Sounds logical, but can you really pull that off? Don't you remember being a kid and doing all sorts of stuff behind your parents' back? By your same point, would you really want porno movies able to be purchased by kids on the trust that parents know what they are doing and agreed to it? Come on man, you can' t trust kids to be honest about that, nor can you expect parents to have a 24-hour know-all domination over every aspect of the kid's thoughts and actions.


2. The government puts age restrictions on such things because parents are "too stupid or lazy" to handle it on their own.

Again, you may think that sounds cool or logical, but it is actually an incredibly narrow-minded and unexperienced attitude. Experience and wisdom will clue you in that in this day and age, parents need all the help they can get. It's not because they are lazy or stupid (which is a shitty thing to say regardless), it's because science and technology have become so invasive, that the job of a parent 20 years ago is now 10 times more difficult in the aspect of controlling what your kid sees and hears. Let's also not forget that such government restrictions were voted on as the will of the majority of the people. "Big brother" is a term tossed around loosely without regard to full undertanding of the issues at hand. It seems to be an easy escape from dealing with what has to be done. Anarchy has never and will never work, so when people band together to form rules and laws, you get a few stragglers moaning about "big brother" Please...


3. Because parents are stupid/lazy and need government help in the form of age restrictions: "Just more evidence that this country is retarded".

For the very reasons I described above, that statement is both insulting and senseless. I just cannot believe people can develope such an uninformed and angry attitude about how things work in a free society. The only thing I can hope for is that you'll grow wiser in older age and realize why things are the way they are. As teens or young adults, kids think they know everything and have all the answers. I was just as guilty of this and only now can I appreciate why people would say "You're too young to know a damn thing of what you're talking about". It pissed me off as a kid, but dammit, they were right.


4. "We just love looking for excuses, blame everything else when the real problem is right fucking in front of them."


While I agree that this does happen for a lot of undeserved situations, it simply does not apply here. This remark of yours was thrown in as part of your overall contempt that is based on irrational perceptions. When you get another 15 years under your belt, I'm sure this attitude will change as you become more aware and informed on political science, structures of society, and raising a family in modern times.